The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of the Little Flower (with Supplemental Reading: Classics Made Simple) [Illustrated]

by Thérèse of Lisieux

At this period I developed a real love for the most ugly and inconvenient things; for example, I was delighted when I found that a dainty little jug in our cell had been replaced by a larger one, chipped all over. I also tried not to make excuses, but found it very hard, especially where our Mistress was concerned, because I did not want to hide anything from her. My first victory was not a very big one, but it cost me a great deal: someone or other had left a little vase on a window sill, and it was found broken. Our Mistress thought it was my fault. She seemed very annoyed that I had left it there and told me to be more careful next time, adding that I had no idea at all of tidiness. Without saying a word, I kissed the ground and promised I would take more care in the future. Such little things, as I have said, cost me a great deal because I was so lacking in virtue, and I had to remind myself that it would all be made known on the Day of Judgment. I concentrated most of all on hidden acts of virtue; I used to like folding up the Sisters’ choir mantles when they had forgotten them and would seek out a thousand ways of doing things for them.